Friday, March 25, 2011

Baby crafts

Two posts in one day- we're just such exciting people!
Some friends of ours are about to have a baby girl. Their nursery is yellow, black and gray. What a cute combination! (Of course, anything involving gray is wonderful to me.) I considered making one of my flannel rag quilts to match the nursery, but I didn't have much luck finding enough patterns I liked in these colors. Well, I found some, but they were way too expensive. Between all of the baby showers, our friends' registry was pretty picked over. So I decided to make a few items I thought would be useful to them and their baby girl while coordinating with their colors. Here's what I've been up to:

A taggy block

Pacifier clips

A nursing cover

2 hooded towels

Trim on the towels made with my new bias tape toy

Here are the links to the tutorials that inspired me. I didn't follow all of the directions exactly.Taggy block- I used way more ribbon and sewed the blocks together in a different pattern. I also put a jingle bell in the middle to make it sound like a rattle.Pacifier clips- I didn't use interfacing or a serger. I should have followed the tip about sewing the velcro on before sewing the material sides. It would have looked much better. Nursing cover- I only used 1 piece of fabric so it wouldn't be too hot. I added my pocket as a triangle in one corner. Also, I used D-rings instead of velcro to make the adjustable neck strap.Hooded towels- easiest project ever! I used adult sized towels so they can be used when the baby outgrows those tiny hooded towels that you can buy in the stores. I also sewed across the point of the hood and cut off the extra material so that the kid doesn't look like a elf. I made single fold bias tape for the edge using this fun new toy. They sell machines that make bias tape, but I found this $4 contraption (w/coupon) did the job perfectly! I can't wait to make more bias tape (a fold down the center and a quick ironing gives you double fold bias tape in no time!)

I also attempted to make a wipeable changing pad, but my sewing machine was not cooperating. By the time we reached a compromise, the project was a flop. Here's the tutorial I was trying to follow. I think it needs to be bigger. Maybe I'll try again. I learned that sewing with vinyl takes practice and patience (and tape on the bottom of your presser foot.)
So what projects have been keeping you busy lately?

6 comments:

These look awesome Amber. Great job. Do you have the instructions for making bias tape out of a square of material? It is a pretty awesome little trick that saves time and doesn't waste material. If you don't have it I will try to scan it and send it to you sometime. I purchased the bias tape machine before Christmas. I was trying to make bias for the aprons I made for my girls. It was very small bias and the machine didn't want to fold it very well. Don't know if I need to know some other tricks or not. Might have to use some spray starch, which I didn't have at that time, to stiffen the material? It's a thought I had. I don't know if larger bias tape would work better. Let me know about the bias instructions if you want them.Kettia

Cute gifts Amber! I'll be making a baby quilt this weekend (that should have been made 3 weeks ago!). I have a cute new pattern and fun material. I have been contemplating making my own bias tape but it seems so hard! Maybe I need one of these thingamabobs to do the trick! I LOVE the taggy block- way cute!